THE JOURNEY... Sequel

Her mother was bewildered and kept mute but kept on praying. Dj called and text-ed her but she wouldn’t respond. Two days later Mr Briggs’ (Dj’ father) and Dj’ friend called her and talked with her. Later she called Dj and talked to him and she decided to go ahead with the wedding… Alas her big day was here with guests gaily dressed and seated in the church the groom arrived looking dapper in his navy blue tux with his groom’s men. Then the congregation was upstanding for the entry of the sweet looking bride, in time the church proceedings were done and they were pronounced man and wife.

Excited, Adediji, planted a soft kiss on her lip as they left for a surprise honeymoon destination. A week later they returned home to thank family and friends for their support. Hannatu picked her suit cases from home to start her new life as Mrs Hannatu Briggs.  The goodbye was emotional she said, “I saw daddy with glassy eyes, that’s when it hit me, I was leaving behind the place I have known as home for 28 years.”

In Port Harcourt, it was a bitter-sweet period of adjustment for both of them and Dj withdrew into his shell, his silence was getting the better part of her, she voiced it out to him because she was new in town and feeling lonely and his silence was not helping her. He, on the other hand, felt she was nagging. The more she tried to converse him up when he returned home from work the more frustrated she became and then tension started building between them. One night while they were having one of their discussions where Hannatu was sharing her idea, Dj’s silent frustration showed up when he slapped her and said, “You talk too much.” Startled she looked at him and kept quiet and the silence remained for 2 days till she moved for peace.

They continued adjusting to each other and she decided to get a job, being new to the town she had to make several phone calls and she got a private firm to start with. She was getting tired of picking after Dj and when she tried to tell him about it, he snapped. She was confused at this change and didn’t even know whom to tell, eventually she summoned up courage and called her mom, her mom was so concerned she prayed with her and encouraged her, her mom couldn’t tell her dad cause she feared he might not take it lightly since Hannatu was the only daughter and very close to her father. Her mum hoped to visit them as soon as she could get her leave in the office. But before she could secure her leave her daughter called to say everything is going well, as Dj has adjusted and she told mum it was just initial adjustment.

Thirteen months later she fell ill and he took her to the hospital on their way home she was asking him if he would help her do some chores at home and he hit her again and asked her to keep quiet, Hannatu had had enough and she returned him the gesture and he asked her out of his car, she came down got a taxi and went home. He came and met her at home and started arguing with her. This easily degenerated into a fight and he was surprised she was fighting back. She went into d room and started packing her things into her suitcases, from behind he kicked her, the pain ran through her spine up to her brain, she turned and fiercely charged at him and pushed him out of the room and shut the door, she finished packing and came out of the room and left the house, only to look back and see him behind her angrily. She picked a big stone and was about to throw it at him when she heard a voice say, “Do you want to kill him?”.... To be Continued